Black Friday 2015 left me with around 50p in my current account, no exaggeration. I'll explain.


In life, some people have willpower, and others really don't. I fall into the latter category. And in my university town, there is a huge shopping centre that my village raised-more-sheep-than-humans mentality struggles to comprehend at the best of times. In the newly opened KIKO store, they were offering a massive buy three get three free deal (basically everything half price but cleverly locking you into buying shitloads of product) and that was the beginning of the end for me and my bank account. Various online deals sealed the blow. 

Major culprits:

ASOS (damn you for stocking Illamasqua)
Jack Wills 
Superdrug
Lookfantastic
Cult Beauty
Microsoft (in all fairness, I've been saving for the Surface 3 all year)
Apple (complete impulse)
And Boots' 4 for £10 on Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains finished me off. KIKO started it though. You shoulder most of the blame. Erm, and me and my lack of self control. 

Just to remind you guys of the damage:

Maybelline has been on 3 for 2 in Superdrug for some time now, and this glorious offer coincided with the release of some new summer products. Naturally, I couldn't help myself and took full advantage (and utilised my NUS Extra card, which entitled me to a further 10% off the normal price)




I bought their new Colour Sensational Popsticks in 'Cherry Pop' and 'Citrus Slice' as they look so like the Clarins balms I have been craving for like two years (but way cheaper) and their new BB Cream in Dark. I was seriously impressed that their 'Dark' shade is genuinely dark, unlike others (cough cough, MUA).

 
 
I also purchased some of their 10 Hour Super Stay Tint Glosses, which I have been road testing and am seriously pleased with! I think the red is my favourite performance wise, but I love the colour of the plum.

 

What does everyone else think about Maybelline's recent offereings? Yey or nay?

 Please don't be offended by the title, it's all in jest. And entirely appropriate seeing as I have spent a sinful amount on all of this:



THERE IS A JUSTIFICATION.

My makeup buying habits have been funded like this, thus far - I buy something small from Superdrug. I then take myself over to their website and fill in their Customer Survey. I then recieve a code from their website to write on my reciept, which I then take to the store and spend to get 10% off everything (when I spend over £10) and 25% off their own brands as well as Sleek, 2True and MUA. I then produce my NUS Extra card (a student card) to get an extra 10% off everything, making the total discount 20% or 35% off Sleek/own brands. Since I usually buy Sleek from Superdrug, it makes everything a lot more affordable.



However, I came to hear that Superdrug are phasing out these vouchers and my world came tumbling down. Those vouchers were the very reason I shop in Superdrug and not Boots, because Superdrug's reward card system is quite frankly, shite, and Boots' is infinitely better, but these vouchers make Superdrug much more affordable than Boots for what I want to buy which is why almost all my makeup is purchased there.


Naturally, I did what any sane person would do and bought everything I would need for the next few months my lifetime. I spent a lot more buying all five of the Blush by 3 palettes and a few other bits and bobs as well as some lipstick for my Mum (she loves Sleek True Colour lipstick as it comes in lots of shades of dark, vampy red) and a few giveaway bits but the majority was pure greed.



I didn't own either the Original or the Au Naturel palettes so bought them. Now, if I just add the PPQ palette, I've got every Sleek palette ever released ;)
Bought a Luminaire concealer as I've always wanted to see what the fuss was about.
MUA Felt Tip Eyeliner,
Suede blush, because I wanted to know if I was missing out. (On use, I can say I'm not)
A repurchase of their Luminous Pressed Powder in Shade 03 as I'm running low on mine (used most days)
Repurchase of the Storm palette as I've broken a shade in the one I already have.
 Various lipsticks.

MUA's new BB Cream in 'Dark' (Verdict: Not dark enough)
Two MUA lipsticks
Lots of GOSH 'Soft 'n' Shine' lip balms (LOVE)
MUA White Eye Kohl
Max Factor 'Fantasy Fire' nail polish
Two of the Maybelline 24 Eyeshadow pot things
Maybelline Gel Eyeliner (not pictured)
Sleek Blush by 3 (not pictured)
Sleek Hide it Concealer (I already own this, but in a darker shade. I have Shade 4, and bought it in Shade 3)
More stuff that wouldn't fit in the photo.




After these holidays are over, I will be far too preoccupied with exams to buy makeup anyway, so really this is an investment in my future...and I will totally save money after this. Promise.

What do you want reviewed first?

this is an eyelash post.

I used my college production of We Will Rock You as an excuse as an opportunity to explore the glorious world of false eyelashes. Up until now, I had one box of upper and one box of lower lashes, both from KKCenterHK (review is linked) and felt it was time to branch into some more daring styles. On a student budget. Henceforth.

 
 

False eyelashes, ordered from eBay. The seller I bought these from sold them for about £6 or so? That's the price I paid for all five boxes (I think) as the lower lashes came seperately. They had plenty of styles to choose from, but I was a little worried about how the lash bands would feel. I hate feeling false lashes on my eyes, especially as I wear contacts, so suspected the bands might be too thick and heavy for my eyes. Luckily, this wasn't a problem with most of the styles.



It's not really a secret to regular blog readers that I enjoy Korean popular culture immensly, so I mostly chose styles that reminded me of the false lashes my favourite Korean celebrities wear. I'm quite the fan of Korean and Japanese street fashion, as well, and the criss cross lashes in particular struck me as 'gyaru' in look. Look out for an inferior recreation of aforementioned looks on the blog, haha.



I ordered a natural pair for everyday wear. Obviously, not to be worn everyday. Just for when I want a little extra 'lift' to my lashes, as they're not particularly curly and I don't have an eyelash curler, lol.





I've nicknamed these 'Baby TOWIE'. They're quite dramatic, something I would either wear for a nighttime party or cut in half and worn on the outer corners.



These are another pair of 'gyaru' looking lashes...I'm envisaging these teamed with circle lenses and a golden eye pencil. Peachy lips and orange blush? Could work, could work.



Criss cross lashes. The curve on these isn't fantastic (they're not very well shaped) but some subtle stationary work (think strategic scissor usage and bending the band around a pencil) and these are wearable. I've worn these as half lashes and quite like them, they've got a lift about them that isn't especially obvious but just adds to the look.

If you were wondering what the title reference is all about, it's dedicated to the flawless Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and her second single;